HONORS PROGRAM (GENERAL EDUCATION)

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” – John Dewey

The General Education Honors Program is a course of study to provide academic challenges and enhanced learning for highly motivated students at Sacramento State. Honors students take most of these courses in their freshman and sophomore years. There is an additional nine-unit upper division Honors sequence that students take to earn an Honors certificate upon graduation. The Honors courses fulfill almost all Sacramento State General Education requirements.

The guiding principles of the Honors Programs are active learning, global subject matter, study of primary texts, and an interdisciplinary orientation. Specially selected faculty provide challenging and stimulating learning experiences in small class settings. The cornerstone experience of the freshmen and sophomore years is a three semester Honors seminar, in which students will read some of the great books of the civilizations of the world and discuss some of the issues raised by these authors.

Honors students have access to a lounge and central administrative office, where they can relax, study, meet with advisors, and talk with one another. The program is open to qualified entering freshmen; all others interested should contact the Honors Director.

Requirements

Honors students take forty-five (45) units of Honors courses (36 lower division and 9 upper division). Exceptions are permitted with permission of the Director.

In their freshman and sophomore years, Honors students take approximately three Honors courses (9 units) per semester, filling out their schedules with other General Education courses or courses required in their pre-major. Honors students must take at least 12 units overall per semester.

The core of the curriculum will be a three-semester Honors seminar (HONR 1, HONR 2, and HONR 3) in which students read some of the great books of world civilizations, consider some of the big issues raised by world thinkers and writers, and improve their skills in critical thinking and writing.

The Honors courses fulfill almost all Sac State General Education requirements for graduation. GE courses that students take in addition to their Honors courses are: ENGL 1A, a physical science course with lab, and the US History course (normally HIST 17A or HIST 17B) required by the California State Education Code. Students must also fulfill a university graduation requirement in foreign languages and the second semester English composition class.

Honors students are assigned a faculty advisor upon arrival at Sacramento State. They must consult with their advisors at least once a semester before registering for their courses.

The freshman and sophomore courses for the first Honors cohort are approximately as follows:

Pursuing the Public Good Through Cinema (Upper division status in the Honors Program; GWAR Certification before Fall 09, or WPJ score of 80+, or C or higher grade in ENGL 109M/W, or C- grade in ENGL 109M/W or WPJ score 70/71 and ENGL 109X co-requisite)